The history of Saint-Tropez

closely tied to the sea and art

During your stay at our hotel in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, you can find out all about the history of the town. It all begins in Pisa...well, at least as far as the name’s origins are concerned. It was in this Italian city where Caïus Silvius Torpetius (Saint Torpes in English, or Saint Tropez in French), an attendant at Nero’s palace, was put to death by the Emperor for his conversion to Christianity. Legend tells that his body was then placed in a small boat with a rooster and a dog, and that the wind led this strange assembly to the shores of the gulf, first named San Torpes and then Saint-Tropez. Yet long before this mythical event, the site of Saint-Tropez had been prized by the Etruscans, the Greeks and the Romans, who had installed trading posts here.

At the end of the 15th century, after the arrival of several Genoese families, the town became more and more prosperous. Activity in Saint-Tropez then essentially revolved around the sea - fishing, trade and shipbuilding. At the end of the 19th century, a new golden age began when artists such as writer Guy de Maupassant and painter Paul Signac discovered the radiance and beauty of the surroundings. Saint-Tropez thus became a fashionable destination, and its fame became international when director Roger Vadim filmed “Et Dieu...créa la femme” (“And God Created Woman”). This 1956 film starred an actress who will forever be synonymous with the town - Brigitte Bardot. The coastal town thus became a major holiday resort for celebrities from the world over, as well as for tourists keen to spot them.

Tourism

La Bastide du Port, facing the sea across from the small Port du Pilon, is a hotel offering the ideal location for exploring Saint-Tropez on foot or spending enchanting days out on the Côte d’Azur.

Shopping in Saint-Tropez

Port of Saint-Tropez

Long the town’s economic centre, the port is now used for leisure purposes. It’s also naturally the perfect place for wandering about admiring the wonderful yachts as well as for enjoying the numerous aquatic events that take place there.

Nightlife in Saint-Tropez

Beautiful by day, Saint-Tropez doesn’t lose any of its charms as the sun sets. For a pleasant evening, the town offers you an incredible array of fun things to do at night, with café terraces, music bars, night clubs, celebrations and much more.